Process for the production of start sheets and an apparatus for carrying out the process



A g- 1965 F. A. JOHANSSON ET AL 3,199,170

PRQCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF START SHEETS AND AN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROCESS File May 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRITZ A. JOHANSSON BENGT G. HELMERSON NILS V. MOKVIST ALLEN F. NORRO INVENTORS g- 10, 1965 F. A. JOHANSSON ETAL 3,199,170

PROCESS FDR THE PRODUCTION OF START SHEETS AND AN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING GUT THE PROCESS Filed May 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRITZ A. JOHANSSON BENGT G. HELMERSON NILS v. MoKws'gj ALLEN F. NORRO INVENTQRS BWRNEYS United States Patent 0 pal PROCESS FGR THE PRDUTKGN If-F TART SHEETS AND AN APPARATUS FOR CARRY- ING OUT THE PROQESS Fritz Agne Johansson, Skeileftea, and Bengt Gustav Helmerson, Nils Vilheirn Mokvist, and Allan Ferdinand Norrii, Skelleftenamn, Sweden, assignors to tfiolidens Gruvaktieholag, Stockholm, Sweden, :1 limited ointstock company of Sweden Filed May 22., 1962, Ser. No. 196,752 Claims priority, application fiweden, June 15, idol, 6337/61; 0st. 23, 1961, likSlM/l 17 Claims. Cl. 29-33) This invention relates to an apparatus for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement.

In one simple known process for the production of start sheets, thin sheets of the metal to be deposited in the electrolytic refinement process are rolled, and subsequently cut to a suitable size. These thin sheets can be easily damaged however during manual handling transport, so that subsequent straightening may become necessary before the sheets are immersed in the electrolytic baths. Regardless of the manner in which the thin metal sheets have been made however, they may be easily deformed or damaged by conventional handling during the attachment of lugs and cathode rods and dur ing all the different stages in transport on their way to the electrolytic tanks.

In another known process for the production of start sheets, the method has been adopted of applying grease layers to permanent sheet-like electrodes, for instance layers composed of suitable oils, and electrolytically precipitating metal layers, for example of copper, on to the layers, which metal layers are scaled oil the permanent sheet-like electrodes at the end of the process. The metal layers, which take the form of thin sheets composed of extremely pure metal, for instance copper, after removal are relatively soft and may be easily deformed. It is of considerable importance that the start sheet blanks should be kept perfectly plane without any buckles, since such defects, during the course of the subsequent electrolytic precipitation where the sheet is placed close to the anode of the electrolytic bath, could give rise to short circuit currents when the layer has increased in thickness on top of the buckled portions.

In order to remove these difi iculties, the start sheets are straightened with lugs and cathode rods.

This procedure requires considerable manual work in order that a production line shall be continued without loss of time. Furthermore, the repeated manual handling is often also disadvantageous since, the sheet may be soiled or coated with oil, which may prove deleterious to the electrolytic process. Numbers of straightened start sheets are subsequently liable to further damage during their transport to the tanks. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus in which the straightening procedure is performed mechanically, and subsequent treatment carried out with the minimum risk of deforming the sheet.

The present invention consists of an apparatus for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement, wherein a straightened start sheet is advanced in a generally horizontal plane and a cathode rod is placed in the path of movement of one sheet and fed against lug blanks placed vertically in the path of movement so that the blanks are bent by the cathode rod to embrace the sheet loosely, the lugs being then caused to grip the sheet, whereafter the sheet is transferred to a vertical position and transported away in this position ready for use.

The invention will now be more clearly explained with reference to one embodiment shown diagrammatically the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a more detailed perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

in FIGURE 1, reference numeral 1 designates a start sheet blank which is passed in the direction of the arrow through a suitable straightening rolling mill generally designated by reference numeral 2. A lowerable roller conveyor 3 is positioned to receive and support the straightened start sheet blanks issuing from the straightening rolling mill 2. At the other end of this roller conveyor 3 is fixed an impulse generator 4 which is arranged, when abutted by a start sheet blank, to start an underlying belt conveyor generally designated by 5 and also conveyors 7a and 9, the belt conveyor 5 being adapted to feed the start sheet blank 1 unloaded from the roller conveyor 3 in the direction of the arrow 6 up to a through-station designated by 7, a start sheet blank 1 being shown in dotted lines during its passage therethrou-gh. As it enters the station 7, the sheet 1 meets a further conveyor comprising parallel endless chains 7a, which have a somewhat lesser extent than the conveyor 5. The plate is then gradually stopped against dogs on this innermost conveyor 7a.

At the side of the station 7 is diagrammatically shown a storage or magazine 8 of preformed cathode rods, which are piled in a basket or the like, suitably placed immediately above the station 7 and which are manually moved one at a time into gripping position for dogs 44 on an outer conveyor comprising two roller chains 9. One cathode rod 8a is shown located transversely of the direction of movement of this conveyor. As will be further evident from the figure, in the station 7 this cathode rod 8a is placed above all of the three conveyors 5, 7a, 9, just in front of the leading edge of the sheet blank ll fed onto the inner conveyor 7a, and both components are unloaded in this zone slowly onto the conveyor 9 and 7a, respectively, Working in the same direction and at the same speed, and are carried away to a station generally designated by it for the attachment of lug blanks over each advanced cathode rod 8a and start sheet blank 1. The lug blanks, which are constituted by elongated plane sheets 11 diagrammatically illustrated in a magazine laterally of the conveyor 9, are placed in this station in, as diagrammatically shovm in the figure, two by two in a vertical position in such a Way that they will be placed in the path of movement of each advanced cathode rod 8a, and are bent at the centre by the advancing rod to form loops having legs or limb portions around the rod and arranged one on each side of the advanced start sheet ready for attachment to the latter. Adjacent the station It is indicated a further station 12 at which tools, for instance riveting tools, punching tools, welding tools or the like, are arranged to bring both legs of each bent lug blank 11 into rigid mechanical contact with the associated start sheet ll. This station 12 is preferably provided with impulse contacts actuated by cathode rods for automatically controlling the operation of the conveyor 9 so that conveying is interrupted while the bent lug blanks are attached to a start sheet and thereafter started again in the feeding direction. The conveyor 9 is thus arranged to work intermittently, each movement being equal to the distance between the leading edge of the cathode rod and the trailing edge of the start sheet blank. To this end, a stepping mechanism generally designated by 63 is arranged at the forward end of the conveyor. After the lug blanks have been attached at the station 12, the prepared start sheet unit is fed further by the conveyor 9 up to raising-swinging-and turning tables designated by a a a reference 15. These tables are so constructed that the completed start sheets 1, with attached lug blanks 11, and the cathode rods 8 lying loosely therein may be raised above the conveyor path, turned through 90 and thereafter swung into a vertical position from which they are fed away at right angles to the conveyor path 9 into storage or magazine means designated by 16. The storage or magazine means 16 are in the form of conveyors and are provided with a stop mechanism which will place the completed start sheets in a correct position on the 'conveyor, the sheets being then stepped away at right angles from the conveyorpath 9 until the storages have been filled. After this has occurred, all start sheets are transported away suitably by special lifting means for immersion in electrolytic baths.

In FIGURE 2, the apparatus of FIGURE 1 is shown in more detail in a perspective view in which all the components of FIGURE 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. 7

Thus, in FIGURE 2, a start sheet blank 1 is introduced in the direction indicated by the arrow A into a cutting tool, such as a gang slitting machine or the like, generally designated by 17, in which the side edges of the start sheet are finishedand the size of the sheet cut with accuracy. This cutting tool or gang'slitting machine may I be of any suitable construction for the purpose. After passing through the gang slitting machine 17, the start sheet blank is fedinto the straightening mill 2, which is indicated diagrammatically by four rolls 18 shown in dotted lines. The straightening mill may also beof any suitable construction. In the straightening mill, the rolls 18 are supported in two frames 19 and 20 provided with I gear boxes or the like 21 and 22 which are connected by means of a shaft 23. These gear boxes 21 and 22 maybe arranged, by means of a manually operable hand wheel 24, to drive the rolls 8 of the straightening mill in such a way that their distances and pressure are set in accordance with the thickness of the start sheets to be straightened and planed during their passage through the straightening mill.

V The raisable and lowerable roller conveyor, generally designated by 3, is arranged in front of the straightening mill. The roller conveyor comprises a number of positively driven rollers or wheels 25 arranged to form a supporting table for receiving and supporting straightened start sheets issuing from the straightening mill 2. As will be evident from the double arrow 26, this roller table or roller conveyor 3 may be raised and lowered and it is to be noted, that the roller table to receive a sheet issuing from the straightening mill must be in its uppermost position as is shown in the figure. When the start sheet has been completely discharged from the straightening.

mill, it will strike an impulse generating member 4, which is located upon an L-shaped section running along the far side of the roller conveyor or roller tables This impulse generating member 4 is arranged to actuate a pneumatic change-over valve which starts the working cycle of the machine equipment as will. be described.

When the sheet abuts against the member 4, the roller.

forward ends by means of a rod 33 and by a transverse member 34 at the rear end. The transverse member 3ft is carried in a bearing or the like 35 whereby arms 32,

' the rod 33 and the transverse member 34 may be swung ends of the arms 32 are thus swingable into a position above or below the arms 31. The entire means just described is adapted to form a magazine for the cathode rods 8a, one of which is shown separately above the frame, and with a motion downwards in the direction indicated by the chain dotted arrow the rods are received by the. supporting frame 30 in the storage basket formed ferred from the magazine down onto the stationaryrarms 31 in readiness for being manually placed upon the conveyor 9 at right angles to its path. of. movement. The arms 31 are disposed just above the conveyor path and an operator stands .at these arms51, successively bringing the cathode rods 8a over to the conveyor path 9. In this through-station 7, however, the belt conveyor 5 is overlapped on one hand by the chain conveyor 9, which comprises two parallel spaced roller chains 41 driven around sprockets 42a fixed to a pivotally mounted shaft 43 and on the other hand by the innermost chain conveyor,

7 which comprises both of the parallel spaced running rolland will be carried away on them in the direction of the V arrow 29, thereby passing through the through-station 7, which is formed by a rearwardly inclining frame 3% having a pair of forwardly directed supporting arms 31 located above the plane of the conveyor 5 of which only one is visible in the figure. Arranged between these parallel and spaced supporting arms '31 is a fork-like means comprising two arms or legs 32 joined at their er chains 7a, which are also driven around their sprockets 42b on the shaft 43 at the same speed as the chains 41. 'Both chains 41, as will berevident from the figure, are provided With dogs 44. The roller chains 7a are also provided with stop cleats or shoulders 7b, the stop surfaces of which, however, face in the opposite direc tion to the dogs 44 of the chains 41. The rate of speed of the belt conveyor 5 is somewhat greater than the rate of speed of the chain conveyors 7a and 9.

An operator at the through station 7 successively places the cathode rods 8-11 across all of the three conveyors possibly upon plates or a plain table, which is stationary in relation thereto. remain until it is gripped by an approaching pair of dogs 44, one on each roller chain 41' Simultaneously with this operation, however, the belts 27 of the belt conveyor 5 transfers an approaching start sheet 1 onto the chains7a of theinnermost chain conveyor at a slightly greater speed than that of said chains.

,Due to this difference in speed, the start sheet is advanced with its leading edge abutting against the stop sur faces upon the stop cleats 7b of the chains 7a and it will thus assume a definitely defined position in relation to both of the chain conveyors during the continued feeding motion. It is to be noted that the'dogs 44 of the chains 41 which move'at the same speed are maintained at the same defined distance aheadof the cleats 7b during the moment, for which reason thecathode rod and start sheet are kept at a definite distance from each other. The operator, however, must ensure that he puts down the cathode rod in proper time in front of each approaching sheet. In this position defined between cathode rod and start sheet, they'are fed to the station It) at which lug blanks 11' are attached. This station 10 com- Each'cathode rod will then 7 prises two vertical feeding chutes and 46 each built up of two plate frames slightly spaced apart, the lug blanks 11 being supplied and allowed to fall down these chutes, which are provided with through holes 49 in order to provide access to the lug blanks 11 if they should inadvertently stick to the chutes. The lug blanks 11 are shown after being fed down as extending in a vertical position in the chutes in front of the roller pair 54 and 51 and in a vertical stop position against stop angle 52. This stop angle is then placed in such a way that the plane of the conveyor path 9 substantially intersects the centre of the lug blanks 11. Consequently, when the cathode rod is positively fed by the dogs 44 against the lug blanks 11 they will be bent in the middle while unrolling with their legs formed thereby between the roller pairs 50 and 51 so that the legs will bend rearwardly gripping around the leading edge of the subsequent sheet. This preparation of lugs thus occurs entirely automatically by means of the cathode rods 8:: which temporarily serve as tools. After the lug blanks 11 have been bent in this Way, the start sheet 1, both lug blanks 11 which now loosely embrace the cathode rod 8a, and the cathode rod will continue to move to the station 12 as the legs of the lug blanks 11 are mechanically attached to the start sheet blanks.

In the embodiment shown, the station 12 is represented by a frame work of beams designated by 53. The frame Work 53 carries at its top two hydraulic or pneumatic ram means 54 and at its bottom a corresponding pair or" equivalent means of which only the cylinder 55 is shown in the drawing. These rams, located vertically one above the other, may be utilized for operating different kinds of tools. Thus for instance they may support riveting tools or punching and riveting tools. According to another alternative the cylinders may operate welding tools co-operating to effect the mechanical fixing of the legs of the lug blanks 11 to the start sheets i.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is arranged to operate in such a way that the tools being carried by the pairs of piston means disposed vertically, one above the other, comprise combined punch lug and riv eting tools, so that, for instance, the punching tool may form openings through both legs or ends of the lugs and the start sheet, and then bend the lugs on one side of the sheet and rivet them thereto.

Since the working direction of the tools is at right angles to the direction of the motion of the conveyor path 9, the conveyor remains stationary during the time the working operation is carried out, and the conveyor continues only after this operation is completed. This may be preset by a programming means which guides the pneumatic system for the whole machine plant. This means that the movement of the conveyor 9 will be of an intermittent nature. An arrangement for causing this movement is shown at the far end of FIGURE 2, wherein 57 designates a shaft carrying sprocket wheels 58 around which run the chains 41 of the conveyor 9. Fixed to the outer end of the shaft is a ratchet wheel 59 co-operating with'a feed pawl 69, which is pivotally mounted on an arm 61. This arm in turn is pivotally connected to a piston rod 62 of a ram 53, which is pivoted to a bearing frame 64 fixed to the base. The piston 62 then, at predetermined intervals, is caused to reciprocate in the cylinder 63 in such a way that the latch pawl is caused to tum the ratchet wheel 59 and therewith the shaft 57 and the sprockets 58 in intermittent angular movements of a definite length corresponding to the length from the leading edge of the cathode rod to the trailing edge of the start sheet during the feeding of the parts.

Referring again to the station 12, it may be noted that when the tools 56 have carried out their attaching operations with regard to the lug blanks 11, said lugs 11 will be rigidly connected to the cathode sheet 1 and at the same time will loosely embrace the cathode rod located therein. As soon as a sheet straightened in the straightening mill has touched the impulse generator 4 and the roller table 3 has been lowered into its lowermost position, the conveyor 9 is put in motion by the ram means 62, 63, so that feeding of the conveyor path i occurs by a distance corresponding to a start sheet with cathode rod, space being thus provided between the tools St: for treating the next approaching start sheet unit.

Placed between the chains 41 of the chain conveyor is one or more lift-turn-and swing tables 15, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 2 in the drawing (two, however, in FIGURE 1). This swinging table 15 comprises a plain table top 65, which is carried by two angular arms 66, provided with two bearing means 67, which are rigidly connected to the arms 66. The table top 65, the arm 66 and the bearing means 67 are pivotally mounted around the horizontal shaft 68 by means of a ram means 69 having a piston rod 70 operating therein, which through a piston head 71 pivotally actuates the entire arrangement via a shaft 72 extending between the bearing means 67. By means of this arrangement, the table top may be brought to swing into a substantially vertical position around the shaft 68 for a purpose, yet to be explained. The table top 65 is further raisable and lowerable in its horizontal position shown by means of hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder means operating from below, which means is generally designated by 73. Furthermore the top 65, and all supporting means located underneath it, is pivotally mounted about a central vertical shaft means 75 by means of a downwardly located lever, not shown, extending radially from it, which is pivotally connected to a piston rod 76 operating in a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 77.

Due to the construction of the table, the following movements may be carried out therewith. When during the stepwise displacement of the start sheet units, such a unit is fed onto the table top 65, the cathode rod 8a located thereon abuts against an impulse valve, which starts movements of the table in a timed relation.

Firstly the top 65 is raised above the chains 61 in order to clear them so that it may be turned. This raising is carried out by the piston cylinder arrangement 73. When this has occurred, the cylinder and piston arrangement 76, 77 receives a start impulse whereby the lever, not shown, which actuates the vertical turning shaft 75, turns the table through 90. After this the piston cylinder arrangement 69, receives an impulse so that the piston 70 will actuate the shaft swinging the entire table top as around the horizontal shaft 68 into a vertical position. The arrow 1 shown illustrates the raising movement of the table, the arrow 2 its turning movement and the arrow 3 the direction of its upward swinging movement, which thus takes place in a plane at right angles to the path of the conveyor 9. When a start sheet and cathode rod after turning is located on this table, the entire unit is swung in the direction of the arrow 3 towards the storing equipment designated by 16 in FIGURE 1. The cathode rod is then thrown with its ends upwardly over cam and curve members 78 and the sheets 1 are suspended vertically. Co-opcrating with the cam members 78 are two vertically movable stop pins 79, which are fixed to a transverse member 80. The piston rod 81 working in a piston cylinder 82 is fixed to the member 80, which is arranged in accordance with the arrow to raise the pins 79 into position in front of the cam members 78. The start sheet thus swung upwardly and removed from the turning table 65, suspended from a cathode rod 8, is latched in position between the cam members 78 and the stop pins 79, whereby the cathode rods are simultaneously located on two conveyor chains 83 running on sprockets 84. The movements are then so co-ordinated that when the piston rod 31 is raised and the stop pins 79 lifted determined programme series. way may be brought to support a verylarge number of V vertically, the chains 83 may be stepped by a stepping distance into a position ready for receiving the next "start sheet unit which is swung upwardly by'the table 65. Furthermore, the movements of this conveyor may be so co-ordinated withthe movements of the table 65 that the movements are 'started and stopped in a pre- The chains 83 in this start sheet units suspended vertically from the chains in a'definite spaced relation. The stepwise displacement of the endless chains 83 occurs by means of a ratchet wheel 85 co-operating with a latch pawl 86 pivotally mounted in the head 87 of a piston rod 88 reciprocating in ahydraulic or pneumatic cylinder89. After the conveyor chains 83 have been filled with start sheet units suspended vertically, it is possible in an'automatic Way tointerrupt the movements of the table s5 and simultaneously stopping the stepping movements of the conveyor chains 83, and instead utilizing tone or more similar tables with conveyors located farther ofi in the conveyor, thereafter supplying the subsequent magazine in (see FIGURE 1) until this is filled. The entire magazine or storage 16 filled with start sheet units may be lifted by means, of lifting means suitably provided with spacers, maintaining a spaced relation between the start sheet units and transported to another storage place or directly immersed in an electrolytic bath for the electrolytic precipitation of a suitable metal upon the planed start sheets.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described and various modifications are possible sheet loosely, means for securing the lugs to the sheet and means for transferring the sheets to a vertical posi-' tion and transporting it away in this position.

2. Apparatus so claimed in claim 1, whichincludes a conveyor for advancing the sheets to a storage station for the cathode rods, of which one at a time is placed upon the conveyor ahead of the leading edge of each sheet, a conveyor for feeding the cathode rod and the sheet to a storage station for lug blanks, which are placed beforehand in the path of movement of the cathode rod,

in such a way, that the cathode rod effects bending of the lug blanks when passing through the station, and the lug blanks embrace loosely the leading edge of thesheet, a subsequent station for securing the lugs to the sheet and a swinging table by means of which the sheets are swung upwardly to be suspended from the cathode rods ina vertical position in a storage station.

3; Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein welding, riveting and punching means are provided for securing the lugs to the sheet. 1

. 4; Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the straight- 'ened sheets are arranged to be supplied to the conveyor in a direction at right angles to the working direction of the conveyor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein means are provided for turning the sheets through 90 about a vertical axisbefore being swung upwardly.

6. Apparatus 'as claimed inclaim 1, wherein there is provided a conveyor path which in sequence, includes a receiving station for straightened sheets, a storage station for cathode rods, a storage station for lug blanks, a station for achieving a mechanical connection between the lug blanks and the sheets, a swinging table for swinging up the ready start sheets into a vertical position and a storage station for suspending the sheets on the cathode rods ready for use.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the conveyor path consists of a first belt conveyor, which is arranged to work within the receiving station and up to the storage station for the cathode rods, and a second belt or chain conveyor provided with dogs for the cathode rods, which is arranged to work from the storage station for the cathode rods and past the swinging table or swinging tables.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim '7, wherein the first conveyor is arranged tobe. driven at a slightly greater.

peed than the second.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a straightening mill is arranged at right angles to the first conveyor opposite to the receiving station, and the receiving station presents a roller table for receiving the straightened sheets, said table being raisable and lowerable in relation to the working plane of the conveyor.

1%. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the storage station for the cathode rods is constituted of a storage shelf for the rods located above the station, which shelf ispreferably provided with a sliding path for the cathode rods extending down to the conveyor path.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the storage station for the lug blanks presents vertical guide chutes for receiving'and guiding of said blanks, which take the form of plane metal sheets, down into the path of movement for the cathode rods positively fed by means of dog members on the other conveyor.

. 12. Apparatus as claim in claim 11, wherein the station for mechanically connecting the lug blanks to the sheets includes a Welding unit, a riveting unit or a punching and upsetting unit arranged to co-operate with the lug blanks and sheets'so as to join them.

13; Apparatus as claimed in' claim 12, wherein the storage station for suspending the sheets .on cathode rods is placed at right angles to the conveyor path, and the swinging table is swingable around a vertical axis and around a horizontal axis;

14; Apparatus as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the storage station is-formed by a belt or chain conveyor which is arranged to feed away intermittently or stepwise start sheets suspended therein.

, 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the storage station forthe start sheets is co-ordinated. with a spacer mechanism which is arranged upon suspending the sheets on the conveyor to establish defined distances therebetween. I

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein all conveyors are motor operated and controlled via switches or impulse generators which are arranged to be actuated automatically by the advanced'sheets. I

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim. 16, wherein the unit for mechanically connecting the lug blanks to the sheets, the swinging table and the chain conveyor of the swinging table and the storage station'are controlled via switches or. impulse generators which are'arranged to be actuated automatically by the advanced sheets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,447 1 2/13 Havener.

RICHARD H. EANES, 13., Primary Examiner. V 

1. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES MEANS FOR ADVANCING STRAIGHTENED START SHEETS IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE, MEANS FOR PLACING CATHODE RODS IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE SHEETS AND FEEDING THEM AGAINST LUG BLANKS PLACED VERTICALLY IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT SO THAT THE BLANKS ARE BENT BY THE CATHODE RODS TO EMBRACE EACH SHEET LOOSELY, MEANS FOR SECURING THE LUGS TO THE SHEET AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SHEETS TO A VERTICAL POSITION AND TRANSPORTING IT AWAY IN THIS POSITION. 